(The Tagline was said in the Oct '07 Conference in reference to April '08 Conference)
Sunday, January 27th, 2008 will forever be marked as the passing of Gordon B. Hinckley. As I was driving home from Idaho, a friend texted my friend who was riding with me to let us know the news. I had mixed feelings. I was extremely sad but happy that he is now in a better place. He is perfect. For the past almost 13 years of my life, I have had the priveledge to hear the words Gordon B. Hinckley has spoken and to follow the path that he has laid before us. He became Prophet when I was 9 years old. He has spoken to me as a child, a young woman and as a young adult and I have been lucky to have him as a guidence for me during the times in my life that I've needed it the most. I love him with all my heart and I know that Heavenly Father chose him for a reason. I have never had so much faith in this church as I do when the next Prophet is chosen. Here is a little bit of President Gordon. B Hinckley and his life:
President Hinckley was born June 23, 1910, in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of Bryant Strigham and Ada Bitner Hinckley. One of his forebears, Stephen Hopkins, came to America on the Mayflower. Another, Thomas Hinckley, served as governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1680 to 1692. Upon being released from missionary service in the mid-1930s, he was called by then Church President Heber J. Grant to organize what has become the Church's public affairs program.
He has served as chairman of the executive committees of the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young University and of the Church Board of Education. The Church Educational System includes not only Brigham Young University's Utah and Hawaii campuses, but Brigham Young University - Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho, LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, elementary and secondary schools in developing countries, and hundreds of seminaries and institutes of religion serving several hundred thousand high school- and college-age youth.
The Church leader is known for his writing and speaking skills, which he began developing as a young boy growing up in the Church. He honed those talents as a missionary preaching regularly from a portable stand in London's Hyde Park and further refined them as a Church authority. He has written and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets, and scripts.
President Hinckley married Marjorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They have five children. Sister Hinckley passed away 6 April 2004.
In addition to his Church duties, President Hinckley has been active in community and business affairs, serving as chairman and board member of a number of business corporations. In 2004, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award, by President George W. Bush. He has been the recipient of a number of educational honors including: the Distinguished Citizen Award, from Southern Utah University; Distinguished Alumni Award, from the University of Utah; and honorary doctorates from Westminster College, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Southern Utah University. He has received the Silver Buffalo Award of the Boy Scouts of America and has been honored by the National Conference (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews) for his contributions to tolerance and understanding in the world.
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